Abnormal brown adipose tissue in hamsters with muscular dystrophy

The size (wet weight, total protein, total cytochrome oxidase) of interscapular brown adipose tissue is reduced to about one-half of normal in the cardiomyopathic hamster (BIO 14.6). The mitochondria are normal in binding of purine nucleotides [guanosine 59-diphosphate (GDP)] and in proportion of polypeptides in the region of 32,000, both indices of the thermogenic proton conductance pathway, and in specific activity of cytochrome oxidase. Brown adipose tissue of the cardiomyopathic hamster can grow during acclimation to 4 degrees C, but its size remains smaller than in cold-acclimated normal hamsters. Mitochondrial polypeptide composition is not altered by acclimation to cold, but a large increase in mitochondrial GDP binding occurs in both normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters. The reduced calorigenic response of cardiomyopathic hamsters to catecholamines (Horwitz, B.A., and G.E. Hanes, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 147: 393-395, 1974) may, at least in part, be explained by a reduction in the amount of brown adipose tissue, the major site of this response. A defect in control of growth of this tissue in the cardiomyopathic hamster is suggested.